Wilmington, NC News

Archive for February, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — The battle of the bulge has been a big, fat failure for US drugmakers. But that hasn’t stopped them from trying.

For nearly a century, scientists have struggled to make a diet pill that helps people lose weight without side effects that range from embarrassing digestive issues to dangerous heart problems.

But this week, federal health advisers endorsed the weight loss pill Qnexa even though the FDA previously rejected it over concerns that it can cause heart palpitations and birth defects if taken by pregnant women.

The vote of confidence raises hopes that the US could approve its first anti-obesity drug in more than a decade. It also highlights how challenging it is to create a pill that fights fat in a variety of people without negative side effects.

HENDERSONVILLE, NC (AP) — The former principal of a western North Carolina charter school has been arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of a minor after police say he received sexual videos of a 12-year-old girl.

Forty-one-year-old Chadwick Jerry Hamby of Hendersonville was arrested Thursday. Hamby had been principal of Mountain Community School. He left in June to become assistant principal at Brevard High School. He resigned Wednesday.

Police say Mountain Community School teacher Deborah Tipton made two videotapes of the girl exposing herself and gave them to Hamby. The 45-year-old Hendersonville woman was arrested Tuesday and charged with sexual exploitation of a minor.